SECD Alumna Rachel Zahn Selected for Delta Gamma Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship


Rachel Zahn (right) gives a high-five to a student at NCECBVI.

SECD Alumna Rachel Zahn Selected for Delta Gamma Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship

27 Jan 2017     By Kelcey Buck

Rachel Zahn, a December 2016 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s master’s program in special education, was selected for a Delta Gamma Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship Award to attend the 2017 American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Leadership Conference March 2-4 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

As one of this year’s award recipients, Zahn will receive registration and up to three nights at the conference hotel, as well as a travel reimbursement of up to $500. In addition, all fellows will be recognized during the Migel Awards Luncheon on the final day of the conference.

“I am always interested in the growing technology and discussions about ways to help my students function more independently,” Zahn said. “I am always excited to see and learn new things about this field. I work with a great group of people so to be selected to go to this conference is an honor and I look forward to the opportunity.” 

After teaching language arts in Houston for 12 years, Zahn moved back to Nebraska and got a job at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired (NCECBVI) in Nebraska City. She enjoyed the work so much that she decided to pursue her master’s and an endorsement as a teacher of the visually impaired.

The purpose of the AFB Leadership Conference is to improve the quality of programming and services to blind and visually impaired children, adults and their families. It provides a forum in which leadership personnel and emerging leaders from the blindness field can come together to increase and share their knowledge and expertise, to network, and to share common concerns and innovative strategies.

Universities across the country were allowed to nominate one graduate student for the 2017 Delta Gamma Foundation fellowship program. AFB then selected up to 12 individuals to receive the awards.


Special Education and Communication Disorders